Irish Derby

O'Brien Has Saratoga Aim For Guineas And Derby Favourite City Of Troy

Aidan O'Brien is busy preparing for what could turn out to be one of his boldest ever campaigns at Ballydoyle with plans in place for City Of Troy (Justify) to tackle the 2,000 Guineas and the Derby followed by an audacious tilt at the Travers S. on the dirt at Saratoga later this summer. Meanwhile, dual Derby and Breeders' Cup hero Auguste Rodin (Deep Impact {Jpn}), arguably the most important older horse to have been kept in training at Ballydoyle for many years, is set to get his campaign underway...

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Lordan Buzzing To Be Back Riding Eight Months After Horror Spill In Irish Derby

Wayne Lordan described his return to race-riding at Dundalk on Friday following an eight-month spell on the sidelines through injury as "a great feeling" and admitted to not realising how much he missed competitive action until he got the leg up aboard Navy Seal (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the Patton Race. Alas, the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt could not provide Lordan with a dream return, as he trailed home last of the three runners, but Lordan's spirits could not have been dented after completing the comeback.  The multiple Group 1 and...

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At the Senate Cafe in Heaven

Andrea Branchini provides a light-hearted response to the suggestion that the Irish Derby should be shortened, featuring an imagined conversation between two classic scholars in somewhat different fields. Yet while Cicero's questions are indeed imagined, Tesio's responses are direct quotes from his bloodstock bible Breeding the Racehorse. Marcus Tullius Cicero: Senator Tesio, what do you think of this recent querelle started by Patrick Cooper's letter in the TDN about shortening the distance of that famous Classic race in Hibernia? Federico Tesio: It is difficult to mathematically establish where speed ends...

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Dear Patrick: With Respect, I Disagree

Since the publication of Patrick Cooper's letter suggesting that the Irish Derby should be shortened in distance we have had a predictably mixed response in correspondence on the subject. You can find Cooper's letter in full here. In essence, it highlights the fortunes of two Frankel colts, the Irish Derby and Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner and Arc runner-up Westover and the Dewhurst and 2,000 Guineas winner Chaldean, both of whom raced for Juddmonte. The latter is now a Juddmonte stallion at Banstead Manor Stud, while Westover is about to...

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Westover Retired With Injury Sustained in the Arc

Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}), winner of the G1 Irish Derby and G1 Grand Prix de Saint Cloud, has been retired after sustaining a "career-ending injury" when finishing runner-up in Sunday's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Announcing his retirement on Thursday, the colt's owner-breeder Juddmonte stated that stud plans for the 4-year-old would be announced at a later date. Juddmonte's racing manager Barry Mahon said, "It's devastating news, unfortunately he suffered a career-ending injury on Sunday and he'll have to be retired. Long-term he'll be fine and he'll be okay...

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Irish Derby: Where Did They Come From?

The first, third and fourth from Epsom all meet again after the Derby form was given a boost by the imposing runner-up King Of Steel when winning the G2 King Edward VII S. at Royal Ascot. Three sons of Galileo take on six of his grandsons, while five Aidan O'Brien-trained runners face one trained by each of his sons, Joseph and Donnacha. AUGUSTE RODIN (Ire) Deep Impact (Jpn) - Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) Owner: Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs John Magnier & Westerberg Breeder: Coolmore Trainer: Aidan O'Brien Pedigree notes:...

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Auguste Rodin Bids To Provide O'Brien With 100th Classic Win In Irish Derby

Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is on track to bid for a Derby double at the Curragh on Sunday with Aidan O'Brien's Epsom hero heading a field of 11 forfeits for the Curragh showpiece.  If successful in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, Auguste Rodin would provide the master of Ballydoyle with his 100th European Classic success, but the colt will face stiff competition with the third and fourth home at Epsom still in the picture for the race.  O'Brien has five horses remaining in the €1.25m contest, which...

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Browne McMonagle Snapped Up To Ride White Birch In Irish Derby

Dylan Browne McMonagle has been provided with a golden opportunity to record his first Classic success in the saddle with the news that John Murphy has snapped up the young riding sensation for White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) ahead of Sunday's Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.  White Birch overcame a nightmare start to finish an excellent third in the Derby behind Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). He was ridden at Epsom by Colin Keane but, with the reigning Irish champion jockey suspended for Sunday's highlight, Murphy has turned to...

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Murphy Eyes Irish Derby For White Birch After Epsom Third

John Murphy has reported White Birch (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) to have come out of his third-placed Derby effort in good order and says that he is looking forward to the rematch with Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh insisting "there's no hiding now". Despite breaking slowly at Epsom on Saturday, White Birch made tremendous late ground to finish a good third under Colin Keane, leaving connections optimistic about what the future may hold for the grey. "It was a relief. We were absolutely...

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Dubai Mile Likely for Grand Prix de Paris

Ahmad Al Shaih's G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Dubai Mile (Ire) (Roaring Lion) will be pointed to the G1 Grand Prix de Paris with the possibility of a run at Royal Ascot in between, trainer Charlie Johnson said. The colt finished ninth in the G1 Betfred Derby on Saturday and was fifth in the Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in his three-year-old debut last month. Dubai Mile holds engagements in the G2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot on Jun 23 and also the G1 Irish Derby at The...

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Hurricane Lane Set For Newbury Return With Arc The Ultimate Aim

Charlie Appleby has revealed that the sole reason behind the 2021 Irish Derby and St Leger hero Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) staying in training as a five-year-old is to have a crack at winning the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.  Hurricane Lane, who was put through his paces at Newmarket racecourse on Tuesday morning ahead of his seasonal reappearance in the Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise S. at Newbury on Saturday, was third in the Arc as a three-year-old.  All systems go for Hurricane Lane to run @NewburyRacing on...

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Irish Derby Runner-Up To Be Offered on Goffs Online

Lone Eagle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), beaten a neck into second by Hurricane Lane (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the 2021 G1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, will be offered on the Goffs Online platform in a timed auction Nov. 21 and 22. A 500,000gns Tattersalls October yearling, the son of the stakes-winning and American Grade III-placed Modernstone (GB) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) won three of his four starts at two, including the G3 Zetland S. for trainer Martyn Meade and had future US champion and GI Breeders' Cup Turf hero Yibir...

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